Egypt president to dispatch his PM to Gaza in show of support

Egypt's Islamist president has ordered his prime minister to lead a senior delegation to Gaza in a show of support for the coastal strip's Hamas rulers in the face of Israel's offensive.

State television said Thursday that, on orders from President Mohammed Morsi, Hesham Kandil will go to Gaza Friday. It said the delegation will also try and meet the "urgent needs" of Gaza residents. It did not elaborate.

Earlier on Thursday, Morsi vowed to work to stop Israel's campaign against Hamas, calling the Jewish state's actions there "unacceptable" in his first public comments on the crisis on his country's doorstep.

On Wednesday, Egypt recalled its ambassador to Israel to protest a barrage of Israeli airstrikes and shelling on Gaza in retaliation for rocket attacks by Gaza militants against Israel.